Adjustable fastening device

ABSTRACT

Adjustable fastening element intended to be fitted to an end region of a transverse member of a vehicle chassis. The fastening element takes the form of a U-section element with a web portion of preferably uniform width and with mutually parallel flanges protruding from opposite side edges of this web portion. Each flange has running through it at least one oblong slitlike aperture, or has running through it two or more mutually aligned holes, for a fastening element, particularly a fastening bolt or fastening screw, whereby the fastening element can be fixed to the transverse member. The fastening element can be fitted straddling the end region of the transverse member, in one of various different positions relative to the end region of the member, with the flanges of the fastening element abutting against opposite side surfaces of the transverse member. The fastening element is fitted partly protruding axially beyond the end surface of the transverse member to form an extension element to the transverse member.

The present invention relates to an adjustable fastening elementintended for fitting to an end region of a member of a vehicle chassis.Adjustable fastening elements of this kind are quite generally intendedfor structural systems of vehicles. The fastening element according tothe invention is intended for fitting to an end region of a member of avehicle chassis, particularly a transverse member of a bus chassis.

STATE OF THE ART

In the case of buses and trucks, Scania has become known inter alia forits special modular concept of chassis construction. The basic idea ofthe modularised construction of chassis for buses and trucks is to use arelatively limited range of standardised constructional components as abasis for nevertheless being able to offer customers a wide range ofdifferent chassis for different areas of application. Modularisationdoes in fact entail a very substantial reduction in the number ofcomponents and articles required to make it possible to offer a broadrange of chassis. Chassis made up of standardised components also affordsubstantial advantages for bodybuilders in that, for example, theconnection points between chassis and body will be situated at certaingiven points irrespective of the type of bus or truck concerned.

Examples of buses for different areas of application include touristbuses, urban buses and buses for long suburban routes. A bus chassisusually comprises three main modules, viz. forward module, middle moduleand rear module. These modules are themselves divided into submodules.In the frame structure for a chassis of modular construction for a bus,for example, the two longitudinal frame side members may be identical,and the same also applies to several of the transverse members whichform part of the frame.

Thus in many cases, bus chassis intended for various types of buses andprovided with transverse members of similar length may be delivered tosuperstructure/bodybuilders.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In some cases, however, the superstructure/bodybuilder needs a chassisin which one or more transverse members should differ in length from theothers. Such cases include those where transverse members formoutriggers to support body ribs.

A main object of the invention is therefore to be able to use a standardtransverse member (i.e. a transverse member with a certain givenstandard length) in chassis for different customers despite the latter'sdifferent length requirements for the transverse member or membersconcerned.

Another object is to be able to use a standard transverse member despitedifferent customers needing to be able to fasten ribs at differentangles to transverse members serving as outriggers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the case of an adjustable fastening element of the kind indicated inthe introduction, the abovementioned objects can be achieved accordingto the invention if the fastening element exhibits the featuresindicated below.

A distinguishing feature of such an adjustable fastening element is thatit takes the form of a profiled element of substantially U-shapedcross-section which has a web portion of preferably uniform width whichhas projecting from its opposite side edges a pair of mutually parallelflanges, each of which has running through it at least one oblongslitlike aperture, or alternatively has two or more mutually alignedholes running through it, to accommodate fastening means (such as boltsor screws) whereby the fastening element can be fastened to the endregion of the member. In such cases, the fastening element is sodesigned as to be easy to fit straddling the end region of the member in(at least two) different positions relative to the end region of themember, whereby these two flanges abut against opposite sides of themember, with at least part of the fastening element situated axiallyoutside the end surface of the member so as to form an extension elementto the member.

The fastening element may thus with advantage be so designed that it canbe fitted directly straddling the end surface of the member fittedpreferably as a chassis transverse member, with the web portion of thefastening element arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction ofthe member. Alternatively the fastening element may be so designed thatit can be fitted straddling the upper side of the member, with the webportion abutting against the upper side of the member. In the first ofthese two cases, the slitlike aperture through each of the flanges maypreferably be oriented substantially perpendicular to the web portion.In the second case the slitlike flange aperture may be oriented parallelwith the web portion. The apertures through the flanges of the fasteningelement are preferably situated centrally to one another.

On the opposite side of the flanges from the web portion of thefastening element there may for example be fastened a structural elementsuch as a rib. Using such a fastening element makes it easy to fasten arib to a vehicle chassis transverse member serving as an outrigger. Astandard member with a given length thereby becomes usable for chassisfor different customers even if the latter require different sizes ofribs and different angular fastenings of ribs to ends of transversemembers. Accordingly, the fastening element is delivered from thechassis manufacturer screwed firmly to the end of the member and canthereafter be easily adjusted to the superstructure bodywork to suitcustomer requirements before being welded permanently in the desiredposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained and exemplified below with referenceto drawings which depict examples of some embodiments of an adjustablefastening element according to the invention.

The drawings are as follows:

FIG. 1 depicts in perspective a first embodiment of an adjustablefastening element intended for fitting to the end region of a member;

FIG. 2 depicts likewise in perspective an adjustable fastening elementfastened to the lower end of a structural element and screwed firmly tothe end region of a transverse member forming part of a chassis framewith frame side members;

FIG. 3 depicts in side view the fastening element according to FIG. 2 ina position pushed as far in as possible towards the end of thetransverse member;

FIG. 4 depicts in side view the fastening element according to FIG. 2 ina position of being pulled as far out as possible from the end of thetransverse member;

FIG. 5 depicts in side view the fastening element according to FIG. 2 ina position of being partly pulled out and being angled obliquelyoutwards; and

FIG. 6 depicts finally in perspective another embodiment of anadjustable fastening element fitted to the end region of a member.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts a fastening element 2 with a U-like profilecross-section. The fastening element has a web portion 4 of uniformwidth which has projecting from its longitudinal side edges a pair ofmutually parallel flanges 6 and 8. Each flange has running through it aslit 10 which extends substantially perpendicular to the web portion.The slit is intended to accommodate screws or bolts 12 to be used forfixing the fastening element 2 to the end of a member (such as thetransverse member 14 in FIGS. 2–5). The fastening element 2 is intendedto be fitted straddling the end region of the relevant member 14, asdepicted in FIGS. 2–5. In its fitted state on the end of the member, thefastening element has its flanges 6,8 abutting closely to opposite sidesurfaces of the member. Depending on its particular position of fittingon the end of the member, the fastening element 2 will project a shorteror longer distance axially beyond the end surface 16 of the member 14,but in all circumstances the fastening element will form an extension ofthe transverse member 14. As particularly indicated in FIG. 2, themember 14 may constitute a transverse member forming part of a vehicleframe, e.g. for a bus chassis. To this end, the transverse memberextends through a pair of frame side members 18 forming part of thevehicle frame, only one of which is visible in FIG. 2. Its open U-likeprofile shape means that the fastening element 2 can where necessary befitted in an oblique position relative to the transverse member 14, i.e.with the web portion 4 arranged at an angle other than 90° to thelongitudinal direction of the transverse member (see FIG. 5). In FIGS.2–5 the fastening element 2 is depicted firmly attached (e.g.permanently welded) to the lower end of a substantially verticalstructural element 20, which may be a hollow pillar or part of a rib notdepicted in more detail, e.g. a rib for an undepicted vehicle body.

We refer finally to FIG. 6, which depicts another embodiment of anadjustable fastening element according to the invention. The fasteningelement, denoted in this case by ref 2′, has a web portion 24 with apair of mutually parallel protruding flanges 26,28, each of which hasthrough it a slit 30 for a screw or bolt, corresponding to the screw 12in FIGS. 2–5. The fastening element 2′ is intended to be fittedstraddling the upper side 32 of the transverse member, i.e. with the webportion 24 abutting against that upper side. The slits 30 in the flanges26,28 extend in this case substantially parallel with the web portion24. In FIG. 6 the fastening element 2′ is depicted with extensions 34 ofthe flanges, by which flange extensions the fastening element isattached firmly to the lower end of a structural element 40.

1. A combination of an end region of a member of a vehicle chassis withan adjustable fastening element, the combination comprising: a fasteningelement comprised of a U-section element, which includes a web portionhaving opposite side edges and mutually parallel flanges attached to andprotruding in the same direction from the opposite side edges of the webportion; a member of a vehicle chassis, the member having an end regionand terminating in an end surface, the member having opposite sidesurfaces; the U-shaped fastening element being shaped with respect tothe end region of the member to be fitted straddling the end region ofthe member and the member being adjustable into any of various positionsrelative to the end region of the member and the flanges of thefastening element abut against respective opposite ones of the sidesurfaces of the member; the fastening element being fastened to the sidesurfaces of the member; the fastening element being shaped and sized asto project axially beyond the end surface of the member to form anextension element of the member; wherein the fastening element beingfastened to the member comprises at least one opening in each flange fora fastener; the fastener in the flange engages the respective sidesurface of the member; and wherein the at least one opening in eachflange comprises at least one oblong slitlike aperture.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a fastening boltor a fastening screw.
 3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the webportion of the U-section element is of uniform width between theopposite side edges thereof along the length of the side edges.
 4. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the member is a transverse member of achassis of a vehicle and the fastening element is at the end of thetransverse member.
 5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the slitlikeaperture has such length with respect to the fastener thereof as toenable the position of the fastening element along the length of themember and with respect to the end region thereof to be adjusted.
 6. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening comprises atleast two mutually aligned holes in each flange of the U-sectionelement.
 7. The combination of claim 1, wherein one of the positions ofthe fastening element is straddling the end surface of the member withthe web portion of the element arranged transversely to the longitudinaldirection of the member and being axially spaced beyond the end surfaceof the member.
 8. The combination of claim 1, wherein one of thepositions of the fastening element is straddling one side surface of themember with the web portion of the fastening element abutting againstthe one side surface of the member.
 9. The combination of claim 8,wherein the slitlike aperture has such length with respect to thefastener thereof as to enable the position of the fastening elementalong the length of the member and with respect to the end regionthereof to be adjusted.
 10. The combination of claim 1, wherein one ofthe positions of the fastening element is straddling the end surface ofthe member with the web portion of the element arranged transversely tothe longitudinal direction of the member and being axially spaced beyondthe end surface of the member, wherein the opening in each flange has anorientation substantially perpendicular to the web portion of thefastening element.
 11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the slitlikeaperture has such length with respect to the fastener thereof as toenable the position of the fastening element along the length of themember and with respect to the end region thereof to be adjusted. 12.The combination of claim 1, wherein one of the positions of thefastening element is straddling one side surface of the member with theweb portion of the fastening element abutting against the one sidesurface of the member.
 13. The combination of claim 1, wherein theslitlike aperture has such length with respect to the fastener thereofas to enable the position of the fastening element along the length ofthe member and with respect to the end region thereof to be adjusted.14. The combination of claim 1, wherein the opening in each flange hasan orientation substantially perpendicular to the web portion of thefastening element.
 15. The combination of claim 1, wherein the openingin each flange has an orientation substantially parallel to the webportion of the fastening element.
 16. The combination of claim 1,wherein the openings in each of the flanges are situated centrally toone another and are thereby aligned along the length of the apertures.17. The combination of claim 4, wherein the flanges have sides thereofthat are opposite the web portion; a structural element which definespart of a superstructure of a vehicle of which the member is a part, andthe fastening element and the structural element being so positionedthat the fastening element fastens the structural element to the membersuch that the structural element comprises a transverse outrigger of aframe of the vehicle.
 18. The combination of claim 1, further comprisingextensions on the flanges which project beyond the web of the fasteningelement and the extensions being adapted for connection to a structuralelement whereby the fastening element is connected to the structuralelement.